The Subtle (But Important) Difference Between Japanese B5 and UK B5 Posters

At first glance, B5 seems like a universal size. If you’ve ever looked up frames online, you’ll find B5 listed on plenty of UK framing websites — so it’s natural to assume that your Japanese chirashi poster will drop straight in.

Unfortunately, it won’t.

Most Chirashi Posters Are B5

The vast majority of chirashi posters were printed in Japanese B5 size, which measures 182 × 257 mm. UK (or “international”) B5 measures 176 × 250 mm — a touch smaller in both width and height. It might not sound like much, but in the framing world, those few millimetres matter.

Slip a Japanese B5 into a UK B5 frame and you’ll either have to trim the poster (please don’t!) or it will buckle and warp inside the mount.

The Rare A4 Chirashi

While B5 was by far the standard, there are rare exceptions — some chirashi posters were printed in A4 size. These are not reproductions, but genuine, original cinema-issued posters. They’re uncommon, highly collectible, and far less likely to appear on mainstream marketplace platforms.

Because of their scarcity, if you find an original A4 chirashi in good condition, it’s often considered a premium item in a collection.

Spotting A4 Reproductions

Most A4-sized “chirashi” you see online are not originals. They’re scanned and reprinted versions of B5 designs, enlarged to fit a standard paper size for convenience. While some reproductions are well-printed, they lack the physical qualities of an original:

• The texture of the original stock
• The ink depth and subtle colour variations from vintage printing
• The gentle signs of age that tell its story

The Scent of the Real Thing

This might sound romantic (or eccentric), but collectors know it’s true: original chirashi posters smell different. Vintage paper, especially the uncoated stock used for many prints, develops a distinctive aroma over time — warm, slightly sweet, and instantly nostalgic, much like the scent of old books.

It’s a sensory detail that no reproduction, however high-resolution, can replicate.

Framing the Right Way

If you’re framing a Japanese B5 chirashi, you have two good options:

1. Find a Japanese B5-specific frame so the fit is exact and the poster sits naturally.
2. Use a larger UK standard frame with a custom mount to adapt to the correct dimensions without trimming.

For collectors who want a ready-made solution, we offer classic matte black frames designed specifically for Japanese B5 posters. They’re understated, timeless, and let the artwork speak for itself — while protecting the piece for years to come.

Because when you own an original, you’re not just displaying an image. You’re preserving a small but important piece of cinematic history — and it deserves a frame made for it.